Goldy, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers mascot, poses with Evelyn Andries New Year’s Day in Tampa, Fla.

MARSHALL — Evelyn Andries of Marshall just might be the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers’ good luck charm. There is a certain offensive guard who gets a text from her before each football game and Wednesday’s Outback Bowl in Florida was no different.

In addition to a text, the Gophers’ Blaise Andries received face-to-face greetings from his grandmother as well. She and other family members flew out to Tampa Monday, took in a 5 p.m. New Year’s Eve parade on Tuesday, watched the football game between University of Minnesota and Auburn University Wednesday and were back home by 3 a.m. Thursday.

Evelyn Andries said her text Wednesday to her grandson was “Happy New Year. Have a good safe game. It would be nice to win.”

And win the Gophers did; the score ended up to be 31-24.

Andries said it was a fun game to watch and the win made it even better.

Blaise Andries is a sophomore actuary science major at the U of M and an MHS graduate. He is 6-feet-6-inches tall and 325-pounds.

“I stand by him and feel like a shrimp,” Evelyn Andries said. “I look at him at think, ‘oh, Blaise, how did you get so big?”

Andries, who will be 89 in March, hasn’t been able to attend any of Blaise’s games all year, but told him if his team made it to a bowl game, she would attend that.

“I didn’t think they’d do it,” she said, “so I had to eat my words. But it was well worth it.”

Andries is the mother of 10 children, the youngest of whom is Joe, who went to Tampa with his wife, Helen.

“Joe and Helen went, Brent (Blaise’s brother) and his girlfriend and their friends Ryan VanMoer and Reece Winkelman,” said Andries. “Also Terry Bahlmann and his wife (Jan) were there. It was nice that his coach was there.”

Kriss Sievers, Blaise’s aunt, went to Florida to help her mother and cheer on her nephew.

“I couldn’t believe how many people from Minnesota were there,” said Sievers who is originally from rural Marshall but lives in St. Cloud now. “There were tons from Minnesota.”

Sievers had jerseys custom made for the event. She and her mother wore yellow jerseys with the Minnesota Gophers in front and on the back it says “Grandma 77 (Blaise’s number) and Andries.” Sievers’s shirt says “Aunt 77 Andries.”

“Lots of people commented,” said Evelyn Andries.

The temperature during the game was 68 degrees, Sievers said, and 70 the day before.

“No coats,” said Andries.

Andries said she could see the action on a big screen as well as looking down on the field.

Andries and Sievers had good seats at Raymond James Stadium, but it wasn’t easy getting there. In addition to long walks at the airports, there were long treks to the stadium tailgate party and then before and after the game they walked to where the players gathered so “we could wish them well and then congratulate them,” said Sievers.

“It meant something to Blaise that Grandma was there,” said Andries.

Sievers said her mother “walked and walked and walked. She was a trouper.”

“It was fun,” Andries said. “I’m glad I went. Everyone was real helpful.”